been energetically pursued, commencing with the autumn of 1850, and ostensibly increasing up to the present time.

The Arab traders, by far the most numerous culprits, have been rivalled by Europeans, the most conspicuous of whom, it is my painful duty to report, after most careful inquiries, leaving no doubt upon my mind, are British subjects, namely, Andrea Debono, know generally in this country as Latif Effendi, and his nephew Amabile, a lad of 19 years of age, both natives of Malta.

The information I have been able to obtain, and of the veracity of which I cannot doubt, is not official, as although both Europears and natives converse with more or less reserve upon the subject, no one resident here will come forward to formally accuse or give evidence against the guilty parties.

The inclosed extract of Baron von Harnier's letter, I could not obtain with a formal declaration accompanying it, by the party, in M. Natterer's absence, though not officially employed, authorized to open his private correspondence.

Never, prior to the year 1859, had the Slave Trade been prosecuted with such vigour, beyond the confines of the negro territories, in the direction of the White River, as it has since that period; and to the requirements of the Egyptian Government, prosecuted by Ahmed el Agad, possessing boats and establishments on the Upper White Nile, in the vicinity of Gondokoro, the increase owes it origin.

From thence, also Andrea Debono and his nephew-connected, until recently, by partnership with Ahmed el Agad in the expeditions of the White River-supplied themselves with slaves, with little or no difficulty.

Suffering from a famine, hundreds of the aborigines are stated to have presented themselves to the traders in search of food, and it has been freely given them; the negroes, little expecting slavery as their doom, willingly accepted the proposal to accompany them to Khartoum, and to return with them the following year.

On the downward voyage small-pox created great havoc amongst them in the overcrowded boats. Numbers died, and others are said to have been thrown overboard before death had taken place; more left unprovided for on shore to abide an equally certain death.

The remaining survivors were sold at Hellit Kaka to Arab traders and the nomade Arabs between that place and the confines of the Egyptian territory, principally the Shookryeh Arabs on the East shore.

Debono is said to have realized in 1860 the sum of 40,000 piastres, equivalent, at an exchange of 974, to 4101. 3s., the half of ich is stated to have been in Egyptian piastres, and the remainder udo gold.

The sales are reported to have been effected by the nephew, and rabs in charge of each boat, of which Debono possessed 4; whilst he latter person, not having accompanied the expedition, received : Khartoum the value.

From 21. to 51. appears to have been the price of each slave, and ssuming 31. 10s. as the average, the number sold to the account of Debono will amount to 117.

The able-bodied brought by Ahmed el Agad were openly made ver to the Egyptian Government and forwarded to Cairo, but I am appy to say his Highness the Viceroy has since issued orders to he Governor of this place to receive no more and to endeavour to ut a stop to the trade.

An eye-witness, a European traveller, not commercially employed, hen on the White Nile, in about 7 degrees north latitude, but who oes not wish his name to be known in connection with the subject, ssured me recently that the boats of A. Debono were crowded with laves; the majority, suffering from small-pox, presenting a revolting pectacle.

According to the extract of Baron von Harnier's letter, above lluded to, it will appear that, in addition to the slaves voluntarily resenting themselves from hunger at Gondokoro, others were orcibly captured.

Whilst these proceedings were pursued on the upper part of the White Nile, the territories of the Shillooks and Dinkas on opposite sides of the river, in about latitude 11 degrees north, were ravaged to a far greater extent, at the instigation of a scoundrel of the name of Mahomed Kheir, an Ottoman subject, and Dongolani by birth, calling himself a "Fucké," a sanctified title of Islamism.

After a residence of, perhaps 15 years among the Shillooks, and connected by marriage with them, Mahomed Kheir induced strong parties of horsemen, members of the Hawasma and Selaem tribes of uomade Arabs, to join him in rising against the Shillooks, and so effectually did they succeed that after slaying great numbers of the aborigines, and driving the survivors out of the district, they carried pillage to the fullest extent. The Sultan's residence is said to have furnished them with crude gold, but the number of slaves and cattle captured is said to be countless, and was divided amongst the Arabs.

A great part of the cattle were sold at this place for slaughter, but the most of the slaves, in various ways, were forwarded to Egypt; and I may add, that so little is the real impediment on the part of the Egyptian authorities towards the trade, that on my way here from Korusko I met 3 caravans composed entirely of slaves in the Nubian Desert.

That his Highness the Viceroy's orders have been received here

by the local Governor for the suppression of the Slave Trade is fact, which also by the latter personage has been publicly proclaimed; but that unless they are followed up by active measures, such as the institution of a river police, with right of search from this to Kaka, in the recent Shillook territory, and a certain punishment to offenders, the endeavours of his Highness will produce no resuits.

It is rumoured here, and I believe with certainty, that the marauder Mahomed Kheir has made overtures to the Egyptian Government, in return for its recognition of him as Chief of the plundered district, to pay an annual contribution of 1,000 head of eattle; and awaiting instructions, the local Governor is said to hare already invested him with the customary insignia of robe and sabre

Should his Highness concede to the proposal, I am certa he has not been correctly informed of the rascality of Mahomed Kheir, or have an idea of the amount of injury committed by this reprobate against legitimate trade; but in order to collect is revenue from the Arabs above alluded to, who sojourn in the neigh bourhood of the Shillook territory to evade their due payments to the Government of Kordofan, to which they appertain, if his Highness will place a responsible official, duly supported, in the district, invite the defeated and badly-used Shillooks to return to their homes, and not to interfere with their administration, with full power to prevent the Slave Trade, a more efficient measure, if honestly carried out, could not, in my opinion be conceived.

The necessity of some such measure, or a well-regulated police on the river, will appear to you the more desirable, as to my certain knowledge no less than 30 boats containing armed hordes of marauders only, in addition to cargoes of grain, have left this place, ostensibly for the sale of the cargoes, but in reality to join Mahomed Kheir in any attempt against the aborigines, in the plunder of whom and capture of slaves they anticipate great gain.

Under the above circumstances, I trust satisfactorily explained, can it be wondered at that legitimate trade is almost extinct?

Personally I am a considerable sufferer from having been the first to open the Bahr-il-Gazal to commerce. I am the first to abandon it, as razzias for the capture of slaves by the Arab traders have become so systematic that, without fighting pitched battles, no advance is to be made in the interior; and since my return I have been compelled to abandon my establishments among the Djour and Dôr tribes, and remove the men to other less disturbed localities.

The losses to legitimate traders are greater than at first sight they appear, as not only are greatly-increased escorts required, but also nts to convey them, both of which augment the expenditure;

at the same time the fear of treachery on the part of the

groes produced by these razzias causes an incalculable impediment commercial proceedings.

arl Russell.

Extract.)

I have, &c.

JOHN PETHERICK.

(Inclosure.)-Baron von Harnier to Dr. Natterer.

(Translation.)

Shier Negro Territory, lat. 5° N., March 14, 1861. THE expeditions which the traders undertake are now but zzias; the ivory is stolen, villages are sacked, women and children rried off as slaves, and the men shot down: hence the reason for e great number of armed dependents.

Immediately after our arrival at Gondokoro, an expedition as scribed arrived; a part of the people belonged to Latif (the lopted name of Andrea Debono, a Maltese and British subject), other, I believe, to Kurshid (a Circassian, agent and partner of hmed il Agâd, both Ottoman subjects).

Owing to our presence the transport of slaves was despatched own the river by night.

I could write pages to you upon the subject, but it is preferable wait until we can communicate verbally with each other.

r. Natterer.

IR,

BARON VON HARNIER.

No. 323.-Earl Russell to Consul Petherick.

Foreign Office, May 3, 1862. I REGRET to learn from your despatch of the 25th of November st, that the reports which had reached Her Majesty's Government n the subject of the extent to which the Slave Trade was carried in Upper Egypt, and in the neighbourhood of the White Nile, re well founded.

You will continue to keep Her Majesty's Government informed u this matter, and you will omit no opportunity of furnishing Ir. Colquhoun with any information or suggestions which may nable him to use his influence with the Government of Egypt to ut a stop to the traffic in slaves, and to the system of rapine and loodshed which would appear to be so extensively carried on in the eighbourhood of the White Nile. I am, &c.

. Petherick, Esq.

No. 324.-Earl Russell to Consul Petherick.

RUSSELL.

Extract.) Foreign Office, October 31, 1862 I HAVE received your despatches relative to the Slave Trade on he White Nile, and to the participation in that traffic of two Brish subjects, natives of Malta, named Debono and Amabile.

I have to state to you that although there can be no moral doubt hat Amabile has been extensively engaged in the Slave Trade, and

that his uncle Debono also connived at and co-operated with his conduct in this respect, yet that, owing to the imperfect state of the evidence collected by you against these persons, it would be impossible for Her Majesty's Government to institute criminal pro ceedings against them with any chance of a successful result. I have therefore instructed Her Majesty's Consul-General at Alexandria to cause Messrs. Debono and Amabile to be released from any further restraint, unless he should in the meanwhile have received other and further proof of their guilt.

J. Petherick, Esq.

RUSSELL

(Extract.)

UNITED STATES.

No. 328.-Earl Russell to Lord Lyons.

Foreign Office, February 28, 182. MR. ADAMS spoke to me a few days ago on the subject of the African Slave Trade. He deplored the vigour and success wis which the traffic is carried on at Cuba, and placed in my hands a despatch from The United States' Consul at Havana, containing information on this subject similar to that which had already reached Her Majesty's Government from Her Majesty's Consul at Havana.

Mr. Adams went on to say that the Government of The United States would be glad to see our cruizers sent to the coast of Cuba.

I did not give any formal answer, but said that the difficulty ly in the question of the right of search upon which so much corre spondence has taken place.

The United States are bound by Treaty to have a squadron with 80 guns on the coast of Africa to intercept and prevent the Slave Trade: they have now only one vessel of 22 guns.

Lord Lyons.

RUSSELL.

No. 329.-Lord Lyons to Earl Russell.—(Received April 8.) MY LORD, Washington, March 25, 1862.

I HAVE the honour to inclose a copy of a note from Mr. Seward, proposing to me to enter into negotiation with him for the conclusion of a Treaty between Great Britain and The United States for the suppression of the Slave Trade.

I have also the honour to inclose a copy of the answer which I have made to this communication.

I have, as your Lordship will perceive, assured Mr. Seward that Her Majesty's Government have the strongest desire to act in conrt with the Government of The United States for this object; and